Southern Nigeria Votes to Stay in UMC, Reject Protocol

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Editor’s note: This report was received from the Rev. Samuel Ahmed of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference. It has been edited for clarity, but the form of the report is presented as received.

Report of the 40th Session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference Held November 10-14, 2021 at McBride United Methodist Church and Abuja Haske United Methodist Church.

From Jalingo, Taraba State

Key points:

-Bishop Yohanna used police to deny the majority of delegates access to the Conference venue.

-Majority of delegates elected without nomination by ballot a President pro tempore.

-Majority of delegates voted to move the venue of the Conference to a nearby United Methodist [church]

-Delegates voted to stay in the United Methodist Church, saying [the conference] does not endorse the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.

The 40th Session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference has ended Sunday, November 10th, despite challenges faced by the 253 majorities of the delegates to get access into the venue of the conference in the hands of armed policemen hired by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna to bar the delegates from access to the venue. Whereas the annual conference session was duly called by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna based on the provisions of the Book of Discipline paragraph 603. All the 393 delegates were informed about the annual conference date and meeting place via a letter sent to all districts and charges. Whereas the delegates were able to do the required registration by paying the required fee to participate at the annual conference session, whereas upon arriving at the gate of the annual conference venue 253 of the duly elected and registered delegates were denied entrance into the church by a team of armed policemen hired by Bishop John Wesley Yohanna.

The majority of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference delegates began to experience harassment and dictatorship in the hands of Bishop John Wesley since November 2020 when the bishop’s desire to change elected Conference officers including the Conference Secretary Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel was voted against with an overwhelming majority at the 39th Session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference. Instead, the Conference strongly resolved not to hold any election until the first Annual Conference preceding the  2020 General Conference. This decision of the Conference didn’t go down well with Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, who resolved to be using the power of the Episcopal office to undermine the decision of the Conference and disobey the order and discipline of the Church. These led some clergy and laity to file several formal Complaints against Bishop Yohanna before the West Africa Central Conference College of Bishops in May 2021. These complaints are still pending. In September and October 2021 Bishop Yohanna issued letters through his Assistants telling the majority of elected delegates that they won't be allowed to enter the venue of the 2021 Annual Conference session for nonpayment of local church apportionments. This decision is not part of our Conference rules or resolutions and there are no provisions for it in the Book of Discipline. Upon receipt of that communications delegates from Fan and Kunini districts filed another formal complaint against the bishop for violating the order and discipline of the church.

The West Africa College of Bishops was adequately informed of how Bishop Yohanna continues to disobey the order and discipline of the church but they are still reluctant [to respond to the complaints].

The 2021 Southern Nigeria Annual Conference was scheduled for November 10th -14th, 2021 at the United Methodist Church McBride in Magami, Jalingo. Delegates arrived at the venue of the Conference on November 10th and met heavily armed policemen who  were  given instructions by the bishop with a list in their hands of whom to allow entrance into the Church. There are 393 registered delegates of the 40th session of the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference. Out of this number, only 111 were allowed to enter the venue. As the Conference secretary when I did the roll call to establish the bar at the gate of the church, we discovered that 253 elected delegates, more than the two-thirds majority, were the ones standing outside the gate. A motion was moved to call to order paragraph 603.6 to elect by ballot without nomination a President pro tempore to carry out the business of the Annual Conference since the Bishop refused majority (253) of the delegates entrance and went in with only 111 who do not form the two-thirds majority required by Conference rules to form a quorum which will allow the business of the Conference to proceed. This motion was seconded, votes were cast by ballot, and Rev. Eli S. Yakku, an Elder and District Superintendent of Fan district was elected President   Pro tempore with 253 votes and immediately assumed responsibility as the presiding officer of the conference.

A motion was moved again by a delegate to change the venue of the conference to the United Methodist Church Abuja Haske for more convenience since the police hired by Bishop Yohanna couldn’t allow the delegate entrance into the venue of the Conference. This motion was seconded, after a brief debate, the president pro tempore Rev. Eli S. Yakku called for votes, those in favor of the motion were 348 and those against it were 5, it passed and immediately the delegate moved to Abuja Haske United Methodist Church, one of the closest United Methodist Church around to continue the business of the Conference. At this point, the session went on break for two hours.

Reconvening 3 pm at the United Methodist Church Abuja Haske, the business of the Conference continued with a major vote taken by the delegates. In a motion brought by Rev. Nicodemus Arthimas from Iware District, putting into cognizance the current challenges facing the United Methodist Church and reviewing the Council of Bishops narrative for continuing The United Methodist Church, he moved that the Conference pass a resolution to stay in The United Methodist Church and set aside the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. This motion was seconded by Sani Baba, a delegate from Antakiya Kona District. Several delegates asked questions regarding the motion which was clarified by the Conference Secretary. The president pro tempore called for the votes, those in favor were 250 while those against the motion were 3. The Conference continued  its deliberation until on Sunday, November 14th closing worship with resolutions attached. The president pro tempore has executed all functions of the bishop except ordination.